Complete Guide to JLPT N5 Grammar
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N5 is the entry-level exam for learners of Japanese. It assesses basic proficiency in understanding Japanese, including grammar, vocabulary, kanji, and reading comprehension. The N5 level is considered beginner-level, but mastering its grammar is an essential first step in your journey to fluency.
In this comprehensive post, we will go over all the essential grammar points you need to know for the JLPT N5. We’ll break down key concepts, offer examples, and explain their usage to help you prepare effectively.
1. Particles
Particles are one of the fundamental elements of Japanese grammar. They are small words that follow a word to indicate its role in the sentence. Below are some essential particles for N5:
- は (wa) – Topic marker
- Example: 私は学生です (わたしはがくせいです) – "I am a student."
- が (ga) – Subject marker (used for new information or emphasis)
- Example: 彼が先生です (かれがせんせいです) – "He is the teacher."
- を (wo) – Object marker
- Example: りんごを食べます (りんごをたべます) – "I eat an apple."
- に (ni) – Direction or location marker
- Example: 学校に行きます (がっこうにいきます) – "I go to school."
- で (de) – Indicates the place of action
- Example: 図書館で勉強します (としょかんでべんきょうします) – "I study at the library."
- と (to) – "And" or "with" (used to connect nouns)
- Example: 友達と話します (ともだちとはなします) – "I talk with my friend."
- の (no) – Possessive marker
- Example: 私の本 (わたしのほん) – "My book."
2. Verb Conjugations
At the N5 level, you need to know several basic verb conjugations. These conjugations will allow you to form simple sentences in different tenses.
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Present / Non-past tense: The verb in its dictionary form can also be used to describe present or future actions.
- Example: 食べる (taberu) – "to eat" or "I eat."
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Negative form: To make a verb negative, replace the last syllable of the verb stem with ない (nai).
- Example: 食べない (tabenai) – "to not eat."
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Past tense: For regular verbs, change the last syllable to た (ta) or だ (da).
- Example: 食べた (tabeta) – "ate."
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Past negative form: For negative verbs, use かった (katta) after the verb stem.
- Example: 食べなかった (tabenakatta) – "did not eat."
3. Adjectives
There are two types of adjectives in Japanese: i-adjectives and na-adjectives. Both types are important to understand for the N5 level.
i-Adjectives
These adjectives end in -i and can directly modify nouns and stand alone as predicates.
- Example: 高い (takai) – "expensive/high"
- 高い車 (たかいくるま) – "expensive car."
- この車は高いです (このくるまはたかいです) – "This car is expensive."
na-Adjectives
These adjectives require na to modify nouns.
- Example: 静か (shizuka) – "quiet"
- 静かな部屋 (しずかなへや) – "quiet room."
- 部屋は静かです (へやはしずかです) – "The room is quiet."
4. Basic Sentence Structure
Japanese sentences typically follow a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order. The verb always comes at the end of the sentence, unlike English where the verb usually comes in the middle.
- Example: 私は本を読みます (わたしはほんをよみます) – "I read a book."
- 私 (watashi) – Subject (I)
- 本 (hon) – Object (book)
- 読みます (yomimasu) – Verb (read)
5. Expressing Likes and Dislikes
You will often need to talk about preferences in daily conversation. The verb 好き (suki) means "like," and 嫌い (kirai) means "dislike."
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好きです (suki desu) – "I like" (literally "It is liked.")
- 私は寿司が好きです (わたしはすしがすきです) – "I like sushi."
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嫌いです (kirai desu) – "I dislike"
- 私は魚が嫌いです (わたしはさかながきらいです) – "I dislike fish."
6. Questions and Interrogative Words
To ask questions in Japanese, you often add か (ka) at the end of a sentence.
- Example: あなたは学生ですか? (あなたはがくせいですか?) – "Are you a student?"
You also need to know the basic question words for N5:
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何 (nani) – "What?"
- これは何ですか? (これはなんですか?) – "What is this?"
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誰 (dare) – "Who?"
- 彼は誰ですか? (かれはだれですか?) – "Who is he?"
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どこ (doko) – "Where?"
- 学校はどこですか? (がっこうはどこですか?) – "Where is the school?"
7. Giving Directions and Locations
You can use basic location expressions with に (ni) and で (de).
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ここ (koko) – "here"
- ここにあります (ここにあります) – "It is here."
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そこ (soko) – "there" (near the listener)
- そこにあります (そこにあります) – "It is there."
8. Using も (mo) – "Also/Too"
The particle も (mo) means "also" or "too." It is used to indicate inclusion.
- Example: 私も行きます (わたしもいきます) – "I will go too."
9. Common Expressions for Everyday Situations
- ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) – "Thank you."
- すみません (sumimasen) – "Excuse me" or "I’m sorry."
- はい (hai) – "Yes."
- いいえ (iie) – "No."
Conclusion
By mastering these essential grammar points, you will be well-prepared for the JLPT N5. This level covers foundational aspects of the Japanese language, including sentence structure, verb conjugations, particles, and essential vocabulary. Remember that practice is key—be sure to write and speak as much as possible to reinforce your knowledge. Good luck with your JLPT N5 preparation!
